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Grants from Rhode Island Foundation will help underwrite
additional day to showcase for “emerging” performers

NEWPORT, RI, December 4, 2013 – The Newport Festivals Foundation Inc.™ (NFF) announced today that it will add a third day of music featuring new and emerging artists at the 60th anniversary of the historic Newport Jazz Festival®. The additional concert, funded in part by a $40, 000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation, is set for Friday, August 1, from 11:30 am – 6:00 pm at Fort Adams State Park.

Tickets for the inaugural Friday event go on sale Thursday, December 5, at 10:00 am through Ticketmaster at www.newportjazzfest.org and at the Newport Visitors Center (NVC), 23 America’s Cup Avenue in Newport. For NVC hours, go to www.discovernewport.org.

“We are grateful to the R.I. Foundation for their generous contribution toward a third day of concerts. We look forward to presenting a line-up of emerging artists, some young, and others who might be considered veterans but have only recently emerged as icons in the jazz realm, ” said George Wein, Producer of the Newport Jazz Festival and Chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation. “We are proud to be able to present an entire day of musicians who may represent the future of jazz. The artistry of these musicians must be heard. This will be a unique contribution from the Newport Jazz Festival in fulfilling its mission, which is to make the public aware of the ever-evolving art form that is jazz.”

“It is our pleasure to support one of the world’s most renowned music events as it expands its international reach through a third day, ” said Neil Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “The fact that this outstanding festival was founded and nurtured in Rhode Island is a source of great pride. We are equally excited that the grant will be used to not only introduce new artists, but also to build new audiences in our state and beyond.”

Artists confirmed for the Friday line-up include Miguel Zenón and Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, as well as John Zorn. Zenón’s performance will be inspired by the Puerto Rican experience in the United States and will feature video and audio clips accompanying the music. Argue’s Secret Society will be performing the US debut of a new piece commissioned by the Hard Rubber Orchestra in Vancouver.

While John Zorn has been around for a while, he has emerged in the past few years as an icon and he’ll be bringing his “Masada Marathon” to Newport. The marathon, which encompasses his broad tastes as a composer and bandleader, will feature eight groups, from instrumental duos, to string trios, to klezmer music.

Wein adds, “In the past three years, we have been able to present over 30 relatively unknown artists. We are now happy to see that some of these artists are already being presented at other festivals throughout the world. Adding the third day will increase the opportunity for the Newport Jazz Festival to present young artists that should become known to jazz fans.”

Joining Wein and the R.I. Foundation at the Newport Visitors Center to make the announcement were State Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, Newport Mayor Harry Winthrop and Randall Rosenbaum, executive director of the R.I. State Council on the Arts.

“This grant is in keeping with the many worthwhile investments in our state made by the Rhode Island Foundation. It will benefit the emerging performers showcased during an added day of the world-renowned Newport Jazz Festival, ” said President Paiva Weed. “Local businesses will also benefit, as visitors from near and far are attracted to the city. It’s something that helps to further distinguish Rhode Island as the State of the Arts.”

“We're thrilled that the Rhode Island Foundation's support will help the Newport Jazz Festival to program an additional day of work by young, innovative and emerging artists. This is the best way to energize local artists and audiences, with the newest and best that Rhode Island and the world has to offer. We applaud the commitment to the next generation of jazz masters, ” said Rosenbaum.

The Newport Jazz Festival®, now presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, will celebrate its 60th anniversary August 1 – 3, 2014 and will feature concerts at Fort Adams, the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino and at The Breakers, where the annual NFF Gala will be held on Saturday night.

The complete line-up for the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management will be announced in January.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2012, the Foundation made grants of more than $30.4 million to organizations addressing Rhode Island’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping our state reach its true potential. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.

The Newport Festivals Foundation was founded by George Wein in 2010 to build and continue the legacies of the famed Newport Jazz Festival® and Newport Folk Festival®. Under the auspices of the Foundation, the Newport Jazz Festival presents performers who respect and honor jazz music traditions, and at the same time reflect the changes in today's musical trends. Through the establishment of partnerships with local high schools and colleges/universities, the Foundation will present programs to educate young people about jazz music as presented at the annual festivals. For more information, please visit www.newportfestivalsfound....

MORE TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the inaugural Friday event (August 1, 2014) at Fort Adams will go on sale Thursday, December 5, at 10:00 am through Ticketmaster at www.newportjazzfest.org and at the Newport Visitors Center (NVC), 23 America’s Cup Avenue in Newport. For NVC hours, go to www.discovernewport.org. Friday tickets are priced at the low cost of $40.00 for Adults, $20.00 for Students and $15.00 for Children ages 3 - 15. All seating will be general admission.

In addition, Jazz fans can take advantage of discount tickets to the Saturday and Sunday events for the 2014 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management and enjoy the ease of flexibility by purchasing “Flex” tickets in person, while supplies last, at the Newport Visitors Center. The $55.00 Flex tickets can be used for general admission to concerts at Fort Adams State Park on either Saturday or Sunday, so there is no need for fans to decide now which day to attend. Saturday and Sunday tickets will be regularly priced at $ 74.00. This offer is not valid on reserved seats at the Fort, or for the Friday evening concert at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.

Students can also purchase “Flex” tickets for $ 20.00 at the Newport Visitors Center, which can be used for admission to Fort Adams on any day of the festival including Friday. High school students older than 15 and college students with valid ID must use the Student Gate and present their ID to enter the festival. Students without valid ID will be directed to the Box Office to pay the difference of a general admission ticket.